A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Ramadan Karim 1431

In Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other key countries, the new moon's sighting has been officially announced, so that Ramadan begins at sundown tonight, and the fast begins at dawn tomorrow. To my Muslim readers, a Ramadan Karim. (In some countries the moon may not be sighted and the authorities may proclaim Ramadan a day later, but the Fiqh Council of North America is apparently recognizing tonight as the new moon.)

UPDATE: There may not be much difference this year: some countries considered Tuesday Shaaban 30, which means Ramadan has to start tonight. (There can't be more than 30 days in a Muslim month, New Moon seen or no.) But others considered it 29 Shaaban, which means if the moon wasn't seen, Wednesday would have been 30 Shaaban. Anyway as far as I can tell posting this update in the evening, virtually everybody is starting Ramadan, and the fast will therefore start at dawn.

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